A Native’s Guide to a Vacay in Charlotte

I have lived in Charlotte since 2003 (besides moving away for 3 1/2 years for school), so I consider myself pretty much a native Charlottean (is that a thing?). Charlotte is one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. and constantly has new breweries, activities, and restaurants opening. It really is such a beautiful town and a lot of fun!

Because it is growing so fast, I feel like I am being asked more often “what should I do when I’m in Charlotte?”, “where should I eat?”, “WHAT IS GOOD??”. So lucky for you all, I compiled a list of where to eat, stay, and play, whether you are here for business, a visit, a wedding, travel, etc.!

Welcome to the Queen City!

 

Activities

National Whitewater Center

G and I got season passes here last year because we love it so much. There is something for EVERYONE. You can pay to get an all access pass and whitewater raft, paddle board on the Catawba river, bike, zip-line, complete the ropes course, rock climb AND MORE.

There is so much to do, and they also have a lot of free activities. During the summer, there is “River Jam” where local bands will come out to play on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Completely free, just have to pay for parking! You could also bring your own bike out and ride the trails for free or just walk them! G and I have been known to just go out and have lunch by the “river” so we can just watch the people who actually know how to kayak. It’s the national training facility so sometimes you’ll see professionals who are training for legitimate competitions or even the Olympics!

 

Carowinds

G and I are season pass holders here as well! It seems like they are always adding new rides, and the ones that exist now are really a lot of fun.

 

Comedy Zone

I didn’t know this place even existed until a couple years ago! We’ve seen probably 3 or 4 shows here now and some of them were actually some decently big names. It’s always a lot of fun and surrounded by some good restaurants and bars so it is easy to make a whole night out of it.

 

Axe Club of America (aka Axe throwing)

To be honest, we haven’t done this yet, but some of our best friends were part of a league there last year. It’s basically darts…. with giant axes. It’s awesome.

 

Bars / Nightlife

Breweries

If you’re looking for a chill afternoon or evening, check out one of Charlotte’s craft breweries. Some are smaller (but amazing), like Wooden Robot, while others have huge outdoor spaces, like Sycamore. There are over 20 breweries in Charlotte, so there are plenty of options to check out! Here is a list of my favorite CLT breweries!

 

Karaoke at Jeff’s Bucket Shop

This place is the ultimate dive bar in Charlotte. It’s small, underground, and in a strip mall. But all the locals love this place because it’s the best karaoke in town! A lot of fun if you’re feel particularly brave one night.

 

Pro tip for night life in Charlotte: At all costs, avoid the Epicentre in Uptown.

Food

Brunch

Terrace Cafe

They have multiple locations in Charlotte, so find the one that is closest to you. Their Southern chicken biscuit is my go to! It has fried chicken breast with pimento cheese with pepper jelly on the side.

 

Cafe Monte

This spot is right next to our apartment which is DANGEROUS. They have one of my favorite brunches in town. I always get the Florentine quiche! And if you don’t care about your health (#treatyoself), ask to have fries instead of salad. They are the tastiest shoestring french fries ever.

 

Napa on Providence

They have so many good options here I can’t even decide what my fave is!

 

Lunch/Dinner

Lebowski’s Neighborhood Grill

I talked about this place in vol. XIX of my favorite things, and I stand by it. So many good options, some of my favorites are the roast beef sandwich (pictured below), their wings, and the honey butter chicken sandwich. AND GET THE GARLIC FRIES.

 

Ruru’s Tacos and Tequila

I had my best friend’s bachelorette dinner here and it was so good! They have a great outdoor eating space, some of the best drinks in town, and their tacos are named after iconic movie lines– WHERE CAN YOU GO WRONG.

 

Seoul Food Meat Co.

This is one of my favorite places in town. Plus it’s within walking distance to some of my favorite breweries! I always get the fire chicken. It is so good! Their pork belly is also amazing and their ramen mac-and-chese is my favorite side to share 🙂

 

Here are some other recommendations for lunch and dinner!

 

Hotels

I wish I could say that I have better recommendations for lodging in Charlotte, but tbh, I’ve only stayed in a Charlotte hotel twice. Once after my wedding and once when G and I had a stay-cation in Uptown Charlotte.

Westin

This is where we stayed on our wedding night and it has INCREDIBLE views. Plus their lobby and bar look amazing!

The view:

 

Dunhill Hotel

This was where Garrett and I stayed for our stay-cation. It’s in a really great part of town and is historical which is fun if you’re into that kind of thing. Not the best views because it is a small hotel so you aren’t above a lot. But the bar is great and you are nearby some AMAZING food.

 

Ballantyne Resort and Hotel

Staying here is pricey, but it is one of the nicest places to stay here! In fact, when Michelle Obama came to visit last, this is where she stayed. Ballantyne is about 20-30 minutes south of Uptown/Center City but it is a super nice/wealthy part of Charlotte. There is an amazing golf course and spa in this hotel too.